For its next owner, this 1974 Dodge Charger Rallye represents a blank canvas. Whichever path they should choose to follow would depend on their desired destination. It would make a sound foundation for a classic restoration, although there are many other options to consider. If a Mopar project has been on your radar, this Charger might make a great starting point. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder TommyT-Tops for referring the Dodge to us. It is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and the owner has listed it for sale here on eBay. Bidding has been strong on this classic, suggesting that a few people see the potential locked within. It has reached $3,500, but this is short of the reserve.
The Charger might be dusty, but it isn’t particularly rusty. It has been parked in dry storage since 1994 and has emerged in surprisingly good condition. The Parchment paint is tired, and the decals have deteriorated, but the panels look remarkably straight. There is some visible Bondo that has started to crack, so the buyer will need to grind this out to investigate what hides beneath. External rust appears to be confined to the lower rear quarter panels and the bottoms of the front fenders. However, it doesn’t look to be severe enough to justify panel replacement. I think that a few patches should consign that issue to the pages of history. The rockers and doors look sound, while none of the usual problems are visible around the back window. It is hard to determine the state of the glass due to the heavy dust layer, but the chrome looks like it is restorable.
The owner has been kind enough to place the Charger on a lift so that we can gain a clear view of its underside. There’s plenty of surface corrosion, but penetrating rust is in short supply. The floors and frame appear solid, suggesting that whipping the body into shape may not be difficult. It is worth noting at this stage that while most of this Dodge’s drivetrain is intact, its 400ci V8 is a distant memory. This V8 was the version that pumped out 205hp, allowing the car to cover the ¼ mile in 15.8 seconds. That number looked pretty respectable during a period when tightening regulations were strangling American vehicles. Sourcing a date-coded 400 should be relatively easy, although the buyer might decide that something more potent is called for. Since Dodge offered the Charger in this model year with the 440, that might be an option worth considering. This Dodge would’ve been an effortless cruiser thanks to the original owner’s decision to order it with power steering and power brakes.
Apart from a hole in the dash where the radio used to be, the Charger’s interior seems complete. The seats wear slipcovers, so it’s impossible to determine their condition. There are some substantial cracks in the pad, but the dash itself looks okay. The carpet also looks tired, so a replacement will need to go on the shopping list. Beyond that, I’d be cleaning everything before I spent any money. After all, why buy items that you don’t need? The new owner can use that money effectively on other parts of the project.
As blank canvases go, this 1974 Charger Rallye looks to be a good one. The vacant engine bay means that the buyer can run riot to create the classic Mopar of their dreams. The reserve hasn’t been met, and there’s time left on the listing. Maybe the time is right to make your play on this beauty.
Id keep the body as it is, just worry about the mechanicals and interior.
Awesome looks front and back.
A black interior would be good.
Good write up Adam
Pretty cars, but they never really handled that well in my opinion. Perhaps it was the over loose feeling (dare I say NO feeling) power steering. I imagine Mopar will sell you a nice running 360 crate engine that would run so much better than the missing 400, lighter front end would make it handle better too. I would like to see a six or 318, but I understand for what these shells command these days, most people would want to at least try to reclaim some of the money they have in it if they ever get tired of the car. Too bad common sense does not sell very well. I sometimes wonder if the Earth was colonized eons ago by a superior humanoid species who used the planet as an insane asylum.
SOLD for $3,889.
Nice car to fix up. In 1974 I worked at a Chrysler dealership. They had one with a white top and gray bottom. It had a six cylinder motor in it. It might have been good for level country,but not in the mountains where I live. It barely had power to climb the mountain going out of town. The air conditions of that time were great. I ,d go over across the street to get themand wash them.Start them up. Turn on the air–back up and they were putting out really cold air on those hot summer days.